Blog Archive

Abundant Living

Perhaps it’s mostly me, or mostly a “woman” thing, or mostly a “human” thing, but one of my greatest struggles each day is wondering if what I’m doing is important. The conversation in my head usually goes something like this: “Am I doing the right things today? Does this thing matter? Should I be doing something else? Now, why am I here again?”

It isn’t long before the day becomes full of activity, and I stand wondering if time has been squandered or if I’ve invested in the things that matter most. The good news is, I can talk to my Creator about these questions in my heart and He is near enough to hear me. And He answers. Isn’t it comforting that He answers? And here is how He answered me today:

I am the Vine, you are the branches; If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit, apart from Me you can do nothing. (John 15:5)

So, here is how I choose to remain in Him today.

(This is how I’ll know I’m doing the right things with the time I’ve been given…this is how my heart can be at rest.)

When difficulties come my way, and they will, I won’t resist or run from them. I’ll view them as Jesus saying to me, “Maggie, I know you don’t like this…but this is from Me. This is My reminder to you that You need Me. You don’t have it altogether. In fact, you’re a mess without Me. I’ve designed this moment of your day to help you depend more fully on Me. The world has taught you that it’s best to depend on you. But I’ve created you in such a way that your life is the fullest when you’re leaning on Me.”

So, I have a lot of things to do today. And they all seem pretty important, at least to me. But, the best sort of living is the living I do with Jesus. And He aims to be with me in everything.

I’ll make this world a better place by cleaning up the messes, creatively adding beauty where I can, cheering on the people in my life, but most of all, by depending on Jesus in each task at hand. And with the little experience I’ve had, I can attest to this–this is truly abundant living.